Older preteens and teens will find plenty of inspiration here.
Paisley offers short overviews of various social justice campaigns whose advocates have used social media to get the word out.
Canadian teen Paisley recounts her surprise when photos posted online of her prom dress—made from old math homework papers and tape—went viral. She’d inscribed a phrase on the dress calling attention to gender disparity in access to schooling as well as the URL for malala.org and used the opportunity to call attention to equal-education champion Yousafzai’s organization. From this starting point, Paisley explores a number of other instances in which platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter have been used by activists, both celebrities and not, to promote causes such as mental health awareness, climate change, feminism, LGBTQ rights, and food insecurity. In brief, clear chapters, augmented with plentiful photos, pull quotes, and pop quizzes that pose questions and conversation starters, she employs an upbeat conversational tone in addressing her audience. Her blend of personal story, tips, and information will appeal to activism-minded teens, though the print format requires readers to take a few extra steps to connect to the many mentioned hashtags, YouTube channels, and other online sources. Further guides written by Paisley in this Popactivism series are also slated for upcoming publication.
Older preteens and teens will find plenty of inspiration here. (Nonfiction. 10-18)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4598-1303-8
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: June 4, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Small but mighty necessary reading.
A miniature manifesto for radical queer acceptance that weaves together the personal and political.
Eli, a cis gay white Jewish man, uses his own identities and experiences to frame and acknowledge his perspective. In the prologue, Eli compares the global Jewish community to the global queer community, noting, “We don’t always get it right, but the importance of showing up for other Jews has been carved into the DNA of what it means to be Jewish. It is my dream that queer people develop the same ideology—what I like to call a Global Queer Conscience.” He details his own isolating experiences as a queer adolescent in an Orthodox Jewish community and reflects on how he and so many others would have benefitted from a robust and supportive queer community. The rest of the book outlines 10 principles based on the belief that an expectation of mutual care and concern across various other dimensions of identity can be integrated into queer community values. Eli’s prose is clear, straightforward, and powerful. While he makes some choices that may be divisive—for example, using the initialism LGBTQIAA+ which includes “ally”—he always makes clear those are his personal choices and that the language is ever evolving.
Small but mighty necessary reading. (resources) (Nonfiction. 14-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-09368-9
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2020
Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change.
Testa’s connection to and respect for nature compelled her to begin championing animal causes at the age of 10, and this desire to have an impact later propelled her to dedicate her life to fighting plastic pollution. Starting with the history of plastic and how it’s produced, Testa acknowledges the benefits of plastics for humanity but also the many ways it harms our planet. Instead of relying on recycling—which is both insufficient and ineffective—she urges readers to follow two additional R’s: “refuse” and “raise awareness.” Readers are encouraged to do their part, starting with small things like refusing to use plastic straws and water bottles and eventually working up to using their voices to influence business and policy change. In the process, she highlights other youth advocates working toward the same cause. Short chapters include personal examples, such as observations of plastic pollution in Mauritius, her maternal grandparents’ birthplace. Testa makes her case not only against plastic pollution, but also for the work she’s done, resulting in something of a college-admissions–essay tone. Nevertheless, the first-person accounts paired with science will have an impact on readers. Unfortunately, no sources are cited and the lack of backmatter is a missed opportunity.
Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change. (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-22333-8
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
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